God of Medicine

For Karis, Trevor, and Katie Almy

Great Physician, true vision
of the Healer God,
the one the pagans called
Apollo, Asclepius, Hygieigia,
Nodens, Apis, Ebisu, or Osiris.
They are all faded images
of the glory of You,
the true Healing God.
You answer prayers like poems
Or one word anguished cries
for relief from symptoms and pain,
For cures to diseases, curable or not.
You set bones that can’t be set.
You stop bleeding that should continue to pour.
You lower fevers that should keep burning.
You preserve life that we think is ending.
Where science says Death.
You say Life.
When we ask for cures
And science says No.
You say Yes.